Video as an assignment format
It is not recommended to submit video files into the assignment submissions. Video files are typically too big in size and they may be in a file format supported only by certain devices. This usually leads to a situation where teachers and other students are not able to open and/or play the video.
A short video of approximately 1 minute may be uploaded to Moodle, depending on the course level file limit and the file size limit of the assignment activity. Normally uploading video files as a submission will be blocked or held up, because of the size - video files are typically measured in giga bytes. 1 GB is 1024 mega bytes, so a single video file easily exceeds the highest limit of allowed file size in Moodle.
The highest limit in administration is 100 Mb - this is also the biggest possible size of an individual file that can be uploaded into Moodle (course or activity). Teachers may set the limit on their course even lower.
Moodle does not de facto prevent uploading video files. The supported video file types are mov,.mp4,.m4v,.mpeg,.mpe,.mpg,.ogv,.webm,.flv and .f4v.
We recommend submitting video assignments as links. Students upload their videos into a cloud file storage (such as OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox) or a video streaming service (such as YouTube or Vimeo) and share their video as a link into the assignment submission in Moodle. (use the hmtl text editor field for inserting the link). Please also check that you have shared the link with viewing rights.
Cloud storage services often have a built-in file type converter which converts the uploaded video and streams it to all the viewers. The viewer does not need a specific software to see the video. O365 OneDrive does not have a built-in converter and it will not stream, so the user has to download the video into their device and view it by using a media player. This is okay if the user has a media player suitable for the file format.
Windows recognizes most of the file formats and is able to open them with Windows Media Player. In MAC computers the respective player is QuickTime Player. You should know how to use your own computer and be aware of the available media players. You are also responsible for downloading the necessary players and converting the video files into the format required (by the teacher). Diak IT support does not help students with installations to their private computers. In case you want to shoot and edit a video, you also need to install the apps and software needed by yourself.
Because OneDrive will not stream on all browsers, the video link shared must have editing rights! That enables the viewers to download the video onto their device and view it with a media player.
Office365 portal includes the Stream app where students may create groups and channels. You may upload your video into your personal channel and administer the users (viewers &editors) of the channel. The Stream app streams, so the user does not need a separate media player for watching a video. You may also attach subtitles and share it as a link (as a submission in Moodle, for example). Watching a Stream video is possible only with Diak O365 credentials. The videos uploaded into Stream cannot be found in an open internet search.
Instructions on how to use Stream can be found on the Microsoft homepage.
Diak only provides a short instruction on how to share the link of a video uploaded into OneDrive. The instruction is available in the O365 manual: http://diak.screenstepslive.com/s/11159/m/72886/l/933640-submitting-a-onedrive-file-as-a-link-into-moodle-assignment.
Students may not be familiar with making an audio or video assignment. When drafting the assignment description, the teacher should give clear objectives for the contents as well as the overall form:
- What does it require to get a passing grade? What kind of video is a fail? What is the assessment matrix or what are the assessment criteria used?
- The minimum length and maximum length
- The quality (if it matters): is HD quality required, what about the audio volume level and clarity?
- Are visual effects or background music expected? What kind of editing styles are allowed? Do these affect the final grade given?
- Privacy issues: where and who can you film? Do you need permissions for shooting the video?
- Copyright issues: What audiovisual material can be added into the video?
- Referencing: do you need to refer to course literature? If so, how is it done (orally in the video, as text title or subtitles in the video or as a separate file)?
- Video assignments should be instructed by its contents and shape similarly to assignments submitted as written documents.